Disaster Detour

I arrived at the Taft MRT Station 4:30 PM. I was dismayed that the crowds were unusually thick and were not moving in any direction--which could only mean that one of the trains had broken down somewhere, most probably at a previous station. A few people raised their voices and argued with the security guard and the ticket sellers at the entrance. Sure enough, a train that had conked out was being pushed by a second train to move it along to the terminal station. When the second train stopped, the first train got loose and shot through the station with infernal crashes and rumbles--and went out on EDSA!

The renegade train plowed into a row of concrete dividers and a 60-foot, steel, electric post. The post toppled over and smashed a parked car. The passengers opened the doors and climbed over the steel fence. An ambulance arrived. I am certain that people were hurt, although I did not actually see that. Later, on the news, I would hear that 36 people were injured; thankfully there were no casualties.

Fifteen minutes after the train halted on the highway, a guard announced that the trains would not run for some time. Most of the people decided to go down and take buses. I chose to get back in the senior citizens carriage of the LRT1, rode all the way to D. Jose Station, purchased a stored-value ticket at the senior citizens window, and rode the senior citizens carriage all the way to Cubao-Araneta Center Station. Quite a roundabout way, but I was comfortable and the trips were predictable.

I arrived home 5:30 PM.